Atlanta filmmaker Tyler Perry reached an agreement Friday to redevelop the aging Fort McPherson army base into new and expanded production studios.

The $30 million price is still subject to negotiation, and not all details of the agreement have been finalized, including how the project would reflect extensive public input from nearby neighbors. The planning process involving the community dates back to 2007, shortly after the Army shut down the military base.

Perry would use the base to expand his Tyler Perry Studios, which currently features five sound stages, a post-production facility, and a 400-seat theater in southwest Atlanta.

Under the new agreement with the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority board, also known as MILRA, Tyler Perry Studios would become the anchor tenant of Fort McPherson, a sweeping production operation that would involve 330 acres. The project would spark more than 8,000 jobs, according to the city and MILRA.

"I am confident that this kind of development will ... attract robust additional investment into the Southside of our city," Mayor Kasim Reed said. "It will also expand Atlanta's footprint in television and film as well as strengthen our position as the cultural and economic center of the Southeast."

Other features of the agreement, or memorandum of understanding, between Perry and MILRA include:

-- MILRA would retain at least 144 acres for economic development.

-- MILRA would meet all federal requirements related to assisting the homeless.

-- There would be additional green space, streetscape and transit improvements, all of which are still being negotiated.

"I am thrilled to have my vision for Tyler Perry Studios come to life in south Atlanta," Perry said. "I look forward to not only expanding Tyler Perry Studios and its capabilities, but also to witness firsthand the economic revitalization of the communities and neighborhoods surrounding the property."

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